Do Snaps Weight-Loss Packets Actually Work?

Table of Contents

• What Are Snaps? 
• Ingredients of Snap Weight-Loss Packets 
• Snaps For Weight Loss: Do The Ingredients Work? 
• The Main Problem In Identifying The Effectiveness of Snaps
• Social Media Trends May Not Be Safe 
• Wrapping Up

Snaps weight-loss packets are taking the internet by storm, especially on the social media platform TikTok. 

The packets contain the supplement snap serum for weight loss from the famous brand Velovita. Velovita offers snap weight-loss packets that promise results from burning stored fat, controlling appetite, and more.

However, are these nootropic snaps too good to be true? Let’s talk about it! 

What Are Snaps?

Velovita snaps are a dietary supplement popularized on TikTok due to unbelievable product claims about them — more specifics on those claims below! 

The products Velovita produces are called snaps because of the packaging. There is a slit in the back of the packaging that is meant to be brought up to the mouth. The user then proceeds to bend the packaging, causing a satisfying snapping sound, and then the snap serum goes into the mouth. It can also be squeezed directly into about four fluid ounces of water. The unique packaging also makes the product more appealing. 

Manufacturer

The company’s “About” page focuses on entrepreneurship (rather than health!), as Velovita is an MLM (also known as multi-level marketing) company. 

An MLM is a type of business structure in which distributors who sell the products recruit new distributors and receive a percentage of their earnings. The name “Velovita” comes from the phrase, “The Velocity of Life.” 

FDA Regulation

Since the snap packs weight-loss products are dietary supplements, it is essential to discuss the regulation of dietary supplements in the United States. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for dietary supplements.

However, while the process may differ from country to country, in the United States, the FDA regulates supplement ingredients and products considered dietary supplements after they have already hit the grocery store or health food store shelves. Therefore, the safety or effectiveness of a product is not guaranteed before the product is on the market. The FDA advises that supplement companies perform their own testing to meet all the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by DSHEA and FDA regulations. [1]

Snaps packets are not FDA approved nor are they regulated by the FDA prior to when they become available for purchase. 

When deciding to take a dietary supplement, it is always recommended to talk to your doctor, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), or another healthcare professional before starting. This is especially important if you are taking medications, have chronic health conditions, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Product Claims

While the product claims of Velovita snaps range from skin improvements and anti-aging to sleep benefits, let’s focus on the claims related to weight loss. Here are some of the most popular product claims of Velovita’s snap weight-loss supplements Zlem: Sleep & Slim: 

• Supports weight management
• Burn stored fat while you are asleep

The Zlem supplement has Stage 1 and Stage 2 variations. They instruct you to use Stage 1 for the first seven days and then take one Stage 2 per night until the box is finished. 

Besides the most popular Zlem supplement, the company also has Plos: Thermo supplement, which claims to aid in weight loss too. Here are some of the product claims:

• Supports weight management
• Contributes to a healthy metabolism
• May help the conversion of fat to energy
• Potential appetite control
• Promotes healthy lipid synthesis

The Plos supplement is meant to be taken once a day and added to coffee. 

Ingredients of Snap Weight-Loss Packets

While these dietary supplements contain dozens and dozens of ingredients, let’s break down some of the main categories they fall into. Since the Plos: Thermo supplements and the Zlem: Sleep and Slim supplements have weight-loss claims, we will focus on the ingredients in these products only.

Antioxidants

Vitamin E, ginger root extract, cranberry, vitamin C, and green tea extract are some antioxidants that can be found in Velovita supplements. 

Antioxidants fight inflammation and oxidative stress in the body caused by harmful compounds called free radicals. 

Enzymes

The Zlem supplement also contains a wide variety of enzymes, such as cellulase, lactase, protease, and more. Enzymes help facilitate chemical reactions in the body and help you break down the nutrients you get from food. 

The body produces these digestive enzymes on its own to catabolize nutrients such as proteins, starches, and fats. However, taking enzymes is a great way to get more nutrients from food, especially if there is a deficiency. 

Nootropics

These are compounds that are thought to potentially enhance brain performance. The nootropics that Velovita snaps contain include L-theanine and Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), both of which are found in Zlem. 

Herbs and Spices

The sleep supplement Zlem contains many extracts from herbs and spices, including ashwagandha root extract, ginger root powder, and more. Ashwagandha root is meant to boost energy and concentration, while ginger can help fight inflammation. 

Additionally, Zlem contains dandelion root extract, which is intended to aid in controlling blood pressure and supporting a healthy liver. 

It also contains marshmallow root extract, which has been studied for its effect on combating inflammation and its function as a diuretic, flushing excess fluid from the body. 

Ingredients With a Laxative Effect

Zlem: Sleep & Slim contains senna leaf extract and magnesium citrate, which provide a laxative effect.

It’s important to note here that laxatives are associated with weight loss only due to your body losing waste, along with fluids. Laxatives don’t burn fat and should only be used if recommended by a healthcare provider.

One of the most popular products that claim weight loss is 3 Ballerina tea, which is based on the laxative-inducing senna as well.

Amino Acids

The Zlem: Sleep and Slim supplements contain the amino acids gamma-aminobutyric acid and beta-aminoisobutyric acid. These ingredients are intended to improve sleep and promote fat metabolism. Another amino acid among the snaps ingredients is L-theanine, which is widely used for relaxation and improved quality of sleep.

The Plos supplement, on the other hand, contains ​​L-carnitine, an amino acid that shows modest results in reducing body fat and BMI. It is also essential for improving brain function and reducing brain fog. [2]

Snaps For Weight Loss: Do The Ingredients Work?

So with just 2 snaps a day, can weight loss occur? However, first, let’s talk about whether this claim is too good to be true. 

Zlem: Sleep and Slim

The main ingredients of the Zlem: Sleep and Slim supplements are beta-amino isobutyric acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid. Some research has been done on these compounds in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. 

However, those studies were animal experiments that involved mice and the effects have not been widely studied in humans. [3]

Plos: Thermo

In the Plos: Thermo supplements, the main ingredient for fat burn is medium-chain triglycerides or MCT. A meta-analysis was completed on MCT and weight loss which concluded that MCT could potentially produce modest weight loss but only when the MCT replaces long-chain triglycerides (found in fats and oils). However, many of these studies did not have adequate information for quality analysis. [4]

Additionally, carnitine is a primary ingredient that the product claims promotes weight loss. A meta-analysis study from the journal Obesity Reviews found that L-carnitine may promote weight loss. [5] 

The Main Problem In Identifying The Effectiveness of Snaps

Here, we have come to the most interesting part of our review: the dosage effect.

We’ve outlined the main ingredients in Velovita’s snaps that claim to promote weight loss. However, are there even enough of them to encourage this effect? Unfortunately, the product does not specify that information, so we don’t know how much of those ingredients are actually in snaps.

Why is this so important?

Many ingredients often need to be used in very large amounts to have a significant or even noticeable effect on the body. For example, all research data and claims about L-carnitine are relevant only if you aim for 2000 mg of L-carnitine per day for months. 

Thus, having no information about the amount of L-carnitine in the Plos supplement, we can’t confirm that snaps actually provide all the benefits of L-carnitine, including weight loss.

What About the Other Ingredients and Their Effects?

This essential question carries over to herbs and spices as well. More specifically, the Zlem: Sleep and Slim snap packet contains many herb and spice extracts. However, they do not specify the exact amount of those extracts. 

Senna leaf extract provides a laxative effect. Laxatives can contribute to fluid and electrolyte imbalances, intestinal wall contractions, large intestinal wall stimulation, and over time can lead to the body relying on this stimulation to induce a bowel movement. In addition to that, laxatives can also promote dehydration due to water and electrolyte loss. Therefore, laxatives should not be used for weight-loss purposes. [6]

While we could go through every ingredient that the snap serums contain, taking supplements such as these with so many herbs, spices, and other ingredients can be dangerous, especially if you are taking medications that they may interfere with. In addition to that, the amount of each ingredient isn’t verified, which can be risky.

With so little information about the amounts of each ingredient, how can you even know if there is enough for it to be effective? 

Moreover, TikTok presents this product as a miracle for those trying to lose weight. Take this snap serum once or twice a day, and then you will somehow lose weight without changing your diet or increasing your physical activity levels. 

If something sounds too good to be true, it likely is, especially when on social media! 

For those looking to improve their health and facilitate their weight-loss efforts, it is important to focus on nutrition and exercise. Use an app for weight loss to help guide you to your goals. 

Social Media Trends May Not Be Safe

Now that we have covered the effectiveness of snaps, it is important to emphasize how you should be cautious when it comes to social media trends, especially regarding health claims that promise a “quick fix.” 

Claims on social media can be exaggerated, misleading, or just completely false, even if the individuals who are making those claims are licensed health professionals, most of whom are not. It is important to speak with your physician or registered dietitian about any products or supplements before consuming them. 

In other words, social media trends can be unsafe. Do you recall the TikTok dry scooping pre-workout trend that promoted taking dry pre-workouts for faster effects? Choking is quite a mild side effect of dry scooping compared to the heart risks though. Another recent trend that comes to mind is the Nutmeg Challenge, in which TikTok users would mix a large amount of nutmeg into a liquid, such as water or milk, and then drink it to achieve a high. Consuming too much nutmeg can have toxic effects on the body due to its myristicin oil content. [7]

Therefore, be extremely weary of social media trends and stick to recommendations from your physician and other healthcare professionals. 

Wrapping Up

Let’s recap some of the core takeaways that we have discussed: 

• Nootropic snaps are a popular weight-loss trend featured on the social media platform TikTok.
• Snaps are dietary supplements that were not regulated by the FDA before they hit the market. 
• These “miracle” products claim to help you burn fat in your sleep, boost your metabolism, decrease appetite, turn fat into energy, and more.
• The Zlem: Sleep and Slim and Plos: Thermo products are the most popular for weight loss amongst Velovita’s product offerings.
• These dietary supplements contain ingredients including spice and herb extracts, enzymes, substances with laxative effects, and more.
• Unfortunately, the claims of these Velovita weight-loss snap packs are primarily not substantiated by evidence-based research in humans.
• The exact amount of each ingredient is unknown, making it difficult to determine efficacy and safety, especially when taking medications.

In conclusion, always consult your doctor or a registered dietitian nutritionist before taking any dietary supplement.

It is also crucial to note that these supplements should not be taken while pregnant or breastfeeding.